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Imagine devoting your entire childhood to one dream and then watching it crumble just as you were about to attain it. Exactly the same thing happened to me when, at the age of 19, my lifelong goal of becoming a skilled footballer fell apart. What I thought was a devastating life crisis turned out to be the push I needed to launch my profession as an entrepreneur.
I was born in Miami, but when my family moved to Hyderabad, India when I was 5, it introduced me to a whole recent world. School was never my passion; Football was my true calling. At the age of 14, my passion caught the attention of the Indian national team manager and I got the likelihood to coach with one of the top German teams. It was a huge opportunity, but the reality of adapting to a recent culture at such a young age was overwhelming.
My football adventure continued at Ellesmere College in Great Britain, where I played in the university team. But despite all my exertions, a skilled contract eluded me. An alternative path led me to play football at Monroe College in the USA. Even though we won the NJCAA Division I national championship, I often found myself on the sidelines realizing I wasn’t ok to go pro. It was a devastating blow.
The day I got here to terms with the proven fact that my dream of becoming a skilled footballer wouldn’t come true was deeply remembered. I felt like my world was falling apart. Everything I had worked for was gone. I felt directionless and unmotivated. I hit rock bottom. But then I found a recent path at Babson College, where I continued to play NCAA Division III football and where I joined eTower, a vibrant entrepreneurial community that reignited my passion for building and creating ventures. Not only did it give me a renewed sense of purpose, but it also helped me overcome the feeling that I wasn’t ok.
Surrounded by individuals who were as motivated as me, I founded Kickstart Sports, a consulting company that helps athletes in India find opportunities in Europe and the United States. The pandemic interrupted this endeavor, but opened up recent opportunities. In 2020, I worked at Compstak, a real estate data company, took a position at a real estate hedge fund in China, and ran a VR/AR sneaker startup. All these experiences ultimately led me to create ProjectAIa company that uses technology to revamp the way cities are built.
My journey in business has not been easy, filled with failures and successes, heartbreaking frustrations and rewarding celebrations. Along the way, I persevered and modified. Here are three key lessons that have shaped my journey and how you possibly can apply them to yours, even if you’re feeling like you are not ok.
1. Rebuild your self-confidence and find a recent purpose
When my football profession got here to an end, I felt I had lost a big a part of myself. I needed to rebuild my self-confidence from scratch. It wasn’t about finding one other job; it was about rediscovering who I was outside of football. I threw myself into recent activities – rugby, student organizations, networking with people from different backgrounds. This exploration helped me find a recent sense of purpose, which ultimately led me to entrepreneurship.
My advice: actively hunt down recent experiences, even if it’s uncomfortable. You will discover what really excites you, what motivates you and what makes you stand out.
2. Build and leverage a strong support system
During this difficult transition, I learned how necessary a solid support system is. I reached out to mentors, leaned on friends who understood my struggles and even found therapy extremely helpful. This network became my saving grace, offering emotional support and practical advice. One thing I did that worked rather well was to send monthly updates to my mentors and key contacts. This kept me accountable and made sure I was on their radar for opportunities.
My advice: Build a support system with individuals who will challenge you, support you and allow you to see things from a different perspective. And, most significantly, keep these relationships alive because they may proceed to supply the support and feedback you want to overcome adversity.
3. Use failure as a stepping stone
The failure of my football dreams was a painful wake-up call, but it taught me resilience. I needed to face the reality that life doesn’t all the time go as planned and that is okay. I began to see failure as a learning opportunity, a likelihood to grow and change direction. Books like The psychology of cash AND Difficult things about difficult things helped reinforce this fashion of pondering. I learned to investigate my failures, draw conclusions and use them to find out next steps.
My advice: do not be afraid of failure. This is an essential a part of the entrepreneurship process that helps you refine your approach and move forward. Every failure or setback is an opportunity to enhance – in your endeavor or profession.
When my soccer dream was shattered and I realized I wasn’t ok to succeed on this path, I learned that resilience, a solid support system, and accepting failure are key skills, especially for entrepreneurs. Challenges will come and the path can be bumpy. But if you surround yourself with the right people and persist, you possibly can create your individual version of success.